St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-30
WAS IT REID?
a mysterious Case in Which the Unsa-
worry Youth Figures.
WHAT IS NOW THE SCHEME?
Alleged That Reid Prowled About the
C0ms0n House and Nearly
Killed a Man.

A singular and certainly very myS-
FERROUS case was laid before the police,
yesterday, the development of which
will be noted with no small degree of
interest. The police are at a loss to ac-
count for the complications on n side
and the absence of a motive on the
other. John Cunningham appeared at
the municipal court in the morning and
wanted awarrant for Hal Reid, charging
him with an assault upon a. w. Brown,
with intent to kill. He was sent
to the superintendent of police and the
same course was taken with two or
three women who appeared in cOnnec-
ton with the same case. The story
resultant is that Hal Reid, now motor
ious through his assault OF Maude
Comson, together with two other men,
had committed an assault Oh A. w.
Brown within earShOt of where his vic.
tim was lying, and had seriously injured
him. Given s~equentially, as gathered
from the several witnesses, the story is
as fOllowS:
Since Reid was admitted to bail siren
uous efforts have been made to settle
the case against him, and it is charged
attempts to buy off the principal wit
neSseS were being worked to the utmost.
1t is also said Reid has been seen, at
night, or after dark, near the house, on
First avenue south, where Miss COmsOn
is lying sick, and the belief is he was
trying to obtain an interview with her.
On Wednesday evening a hack with
closed curtains drove up and
attracted the attention of people living
near by. About II o'clock two or three
men were seen prowling about the lawn
of the house on the corner and looking
in the windows. An hour later there
was an cutlery and a voice was heard to
%piteOusly plead to kill me and put me
out of misery" 1t was the voice of
A. Wallace Brown, addressed to Fred
Williams, brother-in-law of Maud
COmson, and John Cunningham. These
three men were coming home from
at the corner before separating.
Suddenly a man came around
the corner of the house, saw them
and turned sharply away. Williams
suggested he should be followed, and
Brown started after him, Cunningham
crossing the street to keep them in view.
Williams went into the house, but was
almost Immediately summoned by the
voice of Cunningham calling him to
come out and help. He found Cunning
ham supporting Brown, who was seri-
ouSly hurt and crying out in anguish.
He was taken to his boarding house and
DR.. Elliott summoned, the parties then
separating for the night. Brown yes
terday told the following story of what
had occurred:
When the man came from behind the house
walked up behind him. A short distance
above the house / saw him enter a hack. He
spoke to the driver. ! recognized the voice
as that of Hal Reid. l am not mistaken and
could not be. as | knew Reid well. He said
to the driver: at is too early yet. They
have got onto me. Drive around for a few
minutes" The hack moved way. 1 saw
the man across the street. l thought it would
be well to follow him. He went around Hem
nepin avenue and then up Seventh street to
Western avenue. l walked along close to the
high board fence on the northeast corner.
AT the end OF the fence some one struck me
and l knew nothing more. When l revived
two men were tying me to a wagon in the
vacant lot on First avenue north and Seventh
street. Then a man whom l recognized as
Hal Reid struck me. He kicked me in the
back twice, and twice in the stomach. Then
l tainted. When l recovered Cunningham
was untying me. l thought that l should eX-
pire from the horrible pain. Cunningham
took me to Williams house and there they
got a hack and sent me home l am sure
that the man who kicked me was Reid.
This is about the story as gathered by
the police from the witnesses. 1t has
created a broad sensation, especially in
Cne OF the scene. VI
course Maud COmSOn heard of it, and
all day yesterday her condition was
much worse as the result of excitement.
The three men are all reputable, and
the police, while admitting the case is a
mysterious one, say they cal find no
motive on the part of the men to mis-
represent matters. Still there are omis-
sions and discrepancies. Judge Hol-
Inns n Capt. Hoy visited the
spot, and about the wagon found
no traces of a struggle, nor
any footprints neal the wheel
where Brown says he was tied. Capt.
Hankinson and Capt. Hoy were up
again last night, but if anything new
was developed it was not given out. No
warrant for Reds arrest has been is
sued as yet. Judge Hollins said his
theory of the whole thing was that
somebody. was working up to a situation
where Reid might be killed with justi-
tication, which is certainly startling.
The affair is widely discussed and while
the public is at a loss. no one seems to
put the deed beyond Reid.